ARKANSAS

What comes to mind when you think about Arkansas? Here's what others remember: Hunting, fishing, sports, barbeque, and the names Huckabee, Dugars and Clintons. 

I think of the Presidential Library of William Jefferson Clinton in Little Rock, Hot Springs and WalMart headquarters.

As a child growing up in neighboring Missouri, never once did my parents say, "Let's see Arkansas." I had to leave the Midwest and get invited back to discover its charms. I've only scratched the surface and hope to see more.

It all began in Arkansas!

The world's largest company by revenue was founded by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962. He called his venture Wal-Mart Discount City, and it became the first of 10,500+ stores and clubs in 24 countries.

Take a trip through time at The Walmart Museum in Bentonville where you can experience Walton's 5&10, a world-class exhibit gallery, and The Spark Café Soda Fountain. After you've visited the past, finish your excursion in the here & now at the WalMart Supercenter or eight other WalMarts selling gas, food and pharmaceuticals in Bentonville--pretty impressive for a town with less than 60,000 residents! 

When you wander through the historic battlefield at Pea Ridge National Military Park or explore the grand architecture of the bath houses at Hot Springs National Park, you find that the eight national parks within the state of Arkansas are diverse destinations with fascinating tales to tell.

For instance, in addition to seeing Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, not far away is the commanding architecture of Central High School, a National Historic Site known as an epicenter of African-American civil rights.

U.S. Marshals Museum expected to open in 2022 in the old west city of Fort Smith.

One of the most delightful cities in the U.S. for its historic buildings and shops, carousel and Ferris wheel on the waterfront, and museum that once was a brothel, Fort Smith is filled with treasures that may sweep you away with stories of romance, passion and punishment meted to deserving outlaws.

Another "real deal" is Fayetteville. In Little Rock, you get Bill, and his presidential museum. But in Fayetteville the adorable red brick home where Hillary and Bill first planned their foray into politics and Hillary Clinton formed the first legal clinic for women at the University of Arkansas is worth a visit. Fayetteville has such a great vibe, not just for its history and its famous Arkansas Razorback college football team, but also for the college scene, itself. By day the campus is shaded by huge willow trees and at night the sizzling city streets come alive as the college crowd lets its hair down, congregating at outdoor cafes featuring live music and icy beer during the spring, summer and fall.

These are but a few of the surprising, compelling attractions and reasons to take time to visit Arkansas.